Article holding device

ABSTRACT

A device for securing articles in place which includes two casing units. One casing unit supports resilient members for holding articles inserted into the watch against a wall member of the other casing unit. The two casing units are movable away from each other against a restraining force exerted by biasing members disposed therebetween to accommodate articles of different sizes.

Uite States atent 1 Dieter [54] ARTIICLE HOLDHNG DEVICE [76] Inventor: Helrnut Dieter, PO. Box 1408, New

Port Richey, Fla. 33552 22 Filed: Oct. 5, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 186,711

[52] U.S. Cl. 224/26 R, 220/8, 224/5 R 11 3,73,551 June 12, 1973 806,750 12/1905 Padmore 224/26 B UX Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-Jerold M. Forsberg Attorney-William A. Strauch, James E. Nolan,

Richard D. Multer et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A device for securing articles in place which includes two casing units. One casing unit supports resilient members for holding articles inserted into the watch against a wall member of the other casing unit. The two casing units are movable away from each other against a restraining force exerted by biasing members disposed therebetween to accommodate articles of different sizes.

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ARTICLEHOLDING DEVICE This invention relates generally to holders and, more specifically, to devices for retaining in place one or more articles or objects of different configurations.

One embodiment of my invention is a pocket watch or article holder which can be clipped in a pocket and used to retain in place a variety of objects such as pencils, pens, cigarettes, combs, etc. The principles of the invention will be developed by reference to this embodiment for the sake of convenience. However, the invention has other applications; and the ensuing description and discussion is accordingly intended only to explain my invention and not limit its scope.

Many persons carry objects in the breast pockets of shirts, jackets, etc.; and these articles are prone to fall out when the person bends over. The same is true when the person is in an aircraft engaged in acrobatic maneuvers, for example, or in a weightless environment, such as exists in space.

I have now invented a novel article holder which can be clipped in a shirt orother pocket to keep objects in place in the pocket in circumstances of the type just related.

Briefly, my novel article holder includes two interfitted casing members of generally U-shaped configuration providing spaced apart front and rear walls (all terms referring to orientation such as front, rear, vertical, etc. are employed only for the sake of convenience and are therefore not intended to be limiting). A series of vertically extending arcuate springs supported from one casing member are provided to bias objects against the front wall provided by the other casing member and thereby retain the objects in the holder.

Preferably, the article holder is made without a bottom or top. This permits it to be used to keep in place articles which are much longer than the holder is deep, thereby enhancing its versatility.

In the preferred forms of my invention, the two casing members are made movable toward and away from each other so that they can accommodate (even simultaneously) objects of different sizes. Again, this contributes to the versatility of my invention.

Embodiments of my invention of the character described in the preceding paragraph have biasing members between the two casing members at the opposite sides of the device. The biasing members are arranged to oppose the separation of the two casing members. Thus, they create forces which bias the front wall of the device toward the object retaining biasing members to securely retain objects therebetween irrespective of the degree of separation between the two casing members.

One advantage of my invention has been alluded to above. This is that it is capable of efficiently retaining articles in place in circumstances where they would otherwise fall out ofa pocket, for example. Another advantage is that it is capable ofsimultaneously retaining in place articles of different sizes and configurations including objects longer than the article holder itself. Yet another advantage of my invention is its simplicity, which has the virtue of making it inexpensive to manufacture. Still other advantages of the invention are its ruggedness and ease of use.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,353,502 issued July I], 1944, to Reynolds for IMPLEMENT HOLDER AND POCKET discloses a device which, at first'blush, resembles my invention to some extent. However, even a cursory inspection will show the Reynolds device differs considerably from those l have invented and that it would not have the advantages discussed above if employed for my purposes.

Specifically, the Reynolds device, in which spring fingers are employed to clamp objects against a wall member, is difficult to use. Unless considerable care is exercised, objects will be inserted into the holder on the wrong side of the spring fingers and will not be held in place. Or the object will simply strike the top of the spring fingers and will not go into the holder at all. In this case, the spring fingers may be bent or broken if too much force is exerted on the object.

Further, the thickness of the objects which can be inserted into the Reynolds holder is strictly limited by the fixed relation of its front andrear walls, making it of limited utility. This lack of versatility is compounded by the fact that the Reynolds device necessarily has to have a bottom, which makes it useless for retaining in place anything but short articles.

Additionally, the Reynolds device has no provision for retaining it in a pocket or otherwise fixing 17 to a supporting structure. Consequently, the holder with its contents can readily fall from a pocket in circumstances such as those described previously.

Another patent to which I wish to direct attention is U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,538 issued Nov. 5, 1963, to Boxer for BLADE DISPENSER. Again, the device disclosed in that patent superficially resembles my invention to a limited extent. However, a closer inspection will readily reveal that Boxers tongue depressor dispenser would be entirely unsatisfactory for the goals I have in mind and that it would have most of the disadvantages of the Reynolds holder if employed for my purposes.

One important and primary object of my invention resides in the provision of novel, improved devices for retaining objects in place, whether in pockets or else where.

A related important and primary but more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of novel, improved devices for keeping objects from falling out of pockets and the like.

Other important but still more specific objects of the invention reside in the provision of devices in accord with the preceding object, which:

1. are efficient and easy to use.

2. are simple and easy to manufacture.

3. are rugged.

4. 4. are capable of, even simultaneously, retaining in place objects of different sizes and configurations including objects longer than the holder device.

5. have various combinations of the foregoing attributes.

Other important objects and features and further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an object holding device in accord with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged plan view of the device;

FIG. 4 is a view showing at A a side elevation of a front wall unit of the device; showing at B a side elevation of a rear wall unit of the device; and showing at C a fragmentary front elevation of the rear wall unit; and

FIGS. 5-7 are generally diagrammatic top views showing the device in its normal configuration to hold small objects; in its fully open configuration to hold large objects; and in a partially opened configuration to hold a large object or objects on one side of the device and a smaller object or objects on the other.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, reference numeral l0 identifies a pocket watch according to the present invention which includes a front wall unit 11 and a rear wall unit 12. Each of these units is typically made of thin sheet metal and has a generally rectangular configuration. The outer side of the units may be covered with plastic or other material for esthetic or other purposes, if desired.

Front wall unit 11 is generally U-shaped when viewed from the top and includes a rectangular front wall 13 which, along an upper edge 14 thereof, has a clip plate 15 secured to it. The clip plate is utilized to secure the device over the upper edge of a shirt, coat, or other pocket to retain the article holder and its contents in place.

The clip plate, viewed from the side as shown in FIG. I

2, has the appearance of a conventional pencil clip. However, in the present invention (see FIG. 1), the clip plate is made relatively wide to provide a more secure hold on the pocket. The front side of the clip plate may be utilized as a name plate for carrying the name of a person or a firm name such as is suggested at 16.

Integral with the front wall 13 of unit 11 are side walls 18 which extend at generally right angles to the front wall. At its rear end a vertical channel or flange 19 is formed on each side wall 18.

The rear wall unit 12 is likewise of generally U- shaped configuration when viewed from above. This unit includes a rectangular rear wall 20 and side walls 22 which extend at right angles to the rear wall. Vertical channels or flanges 23 are formed at the front edges of these side walls.

As shown in FIG. 3, front wall unit 11 is slidably fitted in rear wall unit 12. Outwardly directed flanges 19 cooperate with side walls 22 and inwardly directed flanges 23 with side walls 18 to guide the front and rear wall units relative to each other as they are moved together and apart. The flanges also cooperate to limit the relative movement between the front and rear wall units.

As shown at A in FIG. 4, each side wall 18 of the front wall unit has a pair of horizontally extending slots 24. Extending through slots 24 into the spaces 26a between the associated side walls 18 and 22 at each side of the article holder are pins 25 which are slidable along slots 24. Pins 25 are fixed to and carried by the flanges 23 at the front edges of rear wall unit side walls 22. Each pin 25 is also attached to the center of a generally U-shaped expansion spring 26 disposed in one of the side wall defined spaces 26a, the springs being fit ted in slotted ends 2617 of the pins which are then squeezed together to retain the pins in place.

As shown by view B of FIG. 4, there are two expansion springs at each side of the device. The expansion springs each have a pair of legs 27 (see also FIG. 3). The legs 27 extend into channels 19 and are slightly spaced from the rear ends of the channels with the article holder in the normal configuration (see FIG. 5).

As the article holder is opened at one or both ends (FIGS. 6 and 7) by the insertion of a large object, the

' front and rear wall units move apart, displacing flanges 19 toward flanges 23 and the guide pins 25 supported from flanges 23. This flattens springs 26, creating restoring forces which tend to bias front wall unit 11 toward rear wall unit 12; i.e., to restore the article holder to the configuration shown in FIG. 5. As will become apparent shortly, this insures that objects are securely retained in the holder despite the extent to which it is opened.

Referring again to the drawing, the rear wall unit 12 of the article holder includes a panel 28 of rectangular configuration which may be integral with and extends upwardly in spaced relation to the front side of the rear wall. At the upper edge of the rear wall is a forwardly and downwardly turned flange 29 which engages the upper edge of panel 28 to keep it in place.

As best shown in FIG. 3 and in view B of FIG. 4, a plurality of vertically oriented, arcuate retainer springs 31 are supported from the rear wall unit 12 of the holder in side-by-side relationship. One holder in accord with the present invention is three inches wide. Fifteen springs spaced three-sixteenths inch on center are employed. The number and spacing of the springs can, of course, be varied as desired.

U-shaped portions 30 are formed at the upper ends of springs 31. These hook over the upper edge of rear wall unit panel 28 (see view B of FIG. 4) and are retained in place by flange 29 which clamps the U-shaped spring portions against the upper edge of the panel. Each of the retainer springs 31 is oriented to extend downwardly in a forwardly bowed shape as is best shown by view B of FIG. 4 so that its central portion is juxtaposed to the front wall 13 of the holding device 10 when the device is empty.

The lower ends of the springs extend through vertically oriented slots 34 in panel 28. Disposed between panel 28 and rear wall 20 and slidable up and down in the space 33 therebetween are a plurality of retainers such as the illustrated steel balls 32. The lower ends of retaining springs 31 are fixed to retainers 32 and are therefore free to move up and down as objects are inserted into and removed from the article holder.

To use the article holder, the object to be secured in place is simply pushed down into it, one or more of the springs 31 clamping the object against the front wall 13 of the article holder. As the upper ends of the springs terminate at the rear wall 20 of the article holder, there is no possibility of the object being inserted on the wrong sides of the springs as in the prior art holders discussed above.

Depending upon the thickness of the object, the springs flatten and lengthen as the article is inserted. The increase in length is accommodated by downward movement of the lower ends of the springs in slots 34. This movement is facilitated by the concomitant free sliding movement of the associated retainers 32 in the space 33 between rear wall 20 and panel 28.

If the object inserted in the article holder is relatively large, it will first flatten the retaining springs it engages and then move front wall unit 11 away from rear wall unit 12 (see FIGS. 2, 6, and 7). In this case, the distended expansion springs 26 exert an oppositely directed restoring force, again securely clamping the object between the springs and front wall 13 of the article holder.

The relative movement between the front and rear wall units 11 and 12 is independent at the opposite sides of the article holder. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the article holder can be readily adjusted simply by the insertion of the desired articles to securely retain larger articles at one side of the article holder and smaller articles at the other.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the article holder just described has no bottom (see, also, FIG. 3). Accordingly, objects exceeding in length the thickness of the article holder can be readily secured in it.

l pointed out above that pocket received article holders are but one form which my invention may take. It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that holding devices employing its principles are well-suited for other applications, especially where positive restraint of objects can be employed to advantage. Therefore, to the extent that such applications of my invention are not expressly excluded from the appended claims, they are fully intended to be covered therein.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

ll. A device for holding articles in place, comprising first and second casing means providing first and sec ond wall members between which the articles to be secured in place can be disposed, said first and second casing means each having side wall members extending normally from the first-mentioned wall members thereof and there being inwardly directed flange means at the free ends of the side wall members of one of said casing means and cooperating outwardly directed flange means at the free ends of the side wall members of the other of said casing means for limiting the movement of one of said casing means relative to the other with the flange means of each of said casing means being dimensioned to engage the side wall members of the other casing means, whereby said flange means guide said casing means as they move toward and away from each other; spring members connecting said first casing means to said second casing means, whereby said first and second wall members can move toward and away from each other to accommodate articles of different sizes, said device further including means attaching said spring members relative to the flange means of one of said casing means for movement therewith and said spring members having portions thereof extending toward and slidably engageable with the interior of the flange means of the other casing means, whereby said spring members exert forces opposing the moving apart of said casing means and thereby make said device capable of retaining in place articles disposed therein; and means fixed to one of said casing means for securing the device to a support means.

2. The device of claim 1, together with resilient biasing means mounted in one of said first and second casing means for biasing articles disposed in the device against the wall member provided by the other of said casing means.

3. The device of claim 1, together with a plurality of elongated spring type retainer means disposed between said first and second wall members, said retainer means having intermediate portions thereof adjacent one of said wall members; and means fixing both ends of each retainer means to the casing means providing the other wall member adjacent said last-mentioned wall member, whereby objects inserted into the device between said wall members are guided by said retainer means between said means and said one wall member and secured by said retainer means against said one wall member.

4. A device for holding articles in place, comprising first and second casing means. providing first and second wall members between which the articles to be secured in place can be disposed; resilient members connecting said first casing means to said second casing means, whereby said first and second wall members can move toward and away from each other to accommodate articles of different sizes; and means fixed to one of said casing means for securing the device to a support means, said first and second casing means each having side wall members extending normally from the first-mentioned wall members thereof and there being inwardly directed flange means at the free ends of the side wall members of one of said casing means and cooperating outwardly directed flange means at the free ends of the side wallmembers of the other of said casing means for limiting the movement of one of said casing means relative to the other with the flange means of each of said casing means being dimensioned to engage the side wall members of the other casing means, whereby said flange means guide said casing means as they move toward and away from each other, there further being slots in the side wall members of one of said casing means which are elongated in the direction of relative movement between said first and second casing means with said device including members fixed to the side wall members of the other easing means and extending through said slots, whereby said members can move in said slots as said casing means move toward and away from each other and said resilient member being arcuate spring members fixed to the members ex tending through the slots with said spring members hav ing legs extending toward and engageable with the interior of the flange means of the other casing means, whereby said spring members exert forces opposing the moving apart of said casing means and thereby make said device capable of retaining in place articles disposed therein.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the one of said casing means in which said biasing means are mounted has a panel portion spaced from the wall member thereof to provide a space between said portion and said wall member, there being slots in said panel portion at intervals thereacross; wherein said biasing means are arcuate springs having a portion thereof adjacentthe wall member of the other of said casing means for biasing objects against said last-mentioned wall member; and wherein said springs are fixed at one end to said one of said first and second means at intervals thereacross; the other end of each of said springs extending through one of the slots in said panel portion; and said device including means slidably retaining said last-mentioned ends of said springs in the space between the wall member and the panel portion of said one of said first and second casing means. 

1. A device for holding articles in place, comprising first and second casing means providing first and second wall members between which the articles to be secured in place can be disposed, said first and second casing means each having side wall members extending normally from the first-mentioned wall members thereof and there being inwardly directed flange means at the free ends of the side wall members of one of said casing means and cooperating outwardly directed flange means at the free ends of the side wall members of the other of said casing means for limiting the movement of one of said casing means relative to the other with the flange means of each of said casing means being dimensioned to engage the side wall members of the other casing means, whereby said flange means guide said casing means as they move toward and away from each other; spring members connecting said first casing means to said second casing means, whereby said first and second wall members can move toward and away from each other to accommodate articles of different sizes, said device further including means attaching said spring members relative to the flange means of one of said casing means for movement therewith and said spring members having portions thereof extending toward and slidably engageable with the interior of the flange means of the other casing means, whereby said spring members exert forces opposing the moving apart of said casing means and thereby make said device capable of retaining in place articles disposed therein; and means fixed to one of said casing means for securing the device to a support means.
 2. The device of claim 1, together with resilient biasing means mounted in one of said first and second casing means for biasing articles disposed in the device against the wall member provided by the other of said casing means.
 3. The device of claim 1, together with a plurality of elongated spring type retainer means disposed between said first and second wall members, said retainer means having intermediate portions thereof adjacent one of said wall members; and means fixing both ends of each retainer means to the casing means providing the other wall member adjacent said last-mentioned wall member, whereby objects inserted into the device between said wall members are guided by said retainer means between said means and said one wall member and secured by said retainer means against said one wall member.
 4. A device for holding articles in place, comprising first and second casing means providing first and second wall members between which the articles to be secured in place can be disposed; resilient members connecting said first casing means to said second casing means, whereby said first and second wall members can move toward and away from each other to accommodate articles of different sizes; and means fixed to one of said casing means for securing the device to a support means, said first and second casing means each having side wall members extending normally from the first-mentioned wall members thereof and there being inwardly directed flange means at the free ends of the side wall members of one of said casing means and cooperating outwardly directed flange means at the free ends of the side wall members of the other of said casing means for limiting the movement of one of said casing means relative to the other with the flange means of each of said casing means being dimensioned to engage the side wall members of the other casing means, whereby said flange means guide said casing means as they move toward and away from each other, there further being slots in the side wall members of one of said casing means which are elongated in the direction of relative movement between said first and second casing means with said device includinG members fixed to the side wall members of the other casing means and extending through said slots, whereby said members can move in said slots as said casing means move toward and away from each other and said resilient member being arcuate spring members fixed to the members extending through the slots with said spring members having legs extending toward and engageable with the interior of the flange means of the other casing means, whereby said spring members exert forces opposing the moving apart of said casing means and thereby make said device capable of retaining in place articles disposed therein.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein the one of said casing means in which said biasing means are mounted has a panel portion spaced from the wall member thereof to provide a space between said portion and said wall member, there being slots in said panel portion at intervals thereacross; wherein said biasing means are arcuate springs having a portion thereof adjacent the wall member of the other of said casing means for biasing objects against said last-mentioned wall member; and wherein said springs are fixed at one end to said one of said first and second means at intervals thereacross; the other end of each of said springs extending through one of the slots in said panel portion; and said device including means slidably retaining said last-mentioned ends of said springs in the space between the wall member and the panel portion of said one of said first and second casing means. 